Divorce; Question on Desertion of Marriage

In general the work is going on happily, and people's hearts are in it. Souls are converted, brought to peace, added to the saints quietly, and if we would desire more spiritual power, still we cannot but thankfully see the Spirit of God working.... Here, the world even says, Christianity is put in quite a new way. It is simply that salvation is preached.

(* Namely, "the position of a woman whose husband left her and his child, and went and married another; she, some while after, unconverted, marries a man who takes her and her child and cares thoroughly for them. She becomes converted, and wishes to break bread. Is she to be dealt with as an adulteress now the case is known? Or, the husband having broken the tie and set her free by marrying another woman, can her present position of wife to another be recognized by the church of God? Her present walk is of good report before the world; and when her husband tried to get a divorce, it was refused him by reason of his misconduct towards her.")

The only other question connected with it is, the state of her own conscience when she married the last time. Did she consider herself free, or as then committing a sin? This may affect the present state of her conscience. But I should take her, as before the church, as married to her present husband. But she should walk softly.

Affectionately yours.

I think the truth has come out more clearly here in Canada, in contrast with mixed law and world and gospel, than anywhere.

How to Meet Attacks; Dissent; Dissolution on All Sides; Essays and Reviews; the Evangelical Body's Loss of Paul's Doctrine; the House and Body; Principles Exercised at the Beginning; Puseyism; Jewish Remnant; Righteousness Controversy; Testimony for These Days; Unworldliness; Authority of the Word; What Darby Learned in 1827